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Steve107
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December 3, 2024
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Charged a whole year supply for old address almost 2 years after I moved out

  • December 3, 2024
  • 32 replies
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Hi everyone. I was with SSE at my old address, moved into my partner's March 2022 and we moved to a bigger house together in August 2022.

New Tenants moved straight into my old house August 2022, I gave final meter readings over the phone as I've always done when I moved and thought nothing else of it.

Then in February 2024 around (18) months after I moved out, OVO said I owed £1800 July 2022- March 2023, I sent them loads of evidence to show I wasn't living there at that time by showing full tenancy agreement at new address, estate agents confirming I was, driving licence at new address, Council tax letter, HMRC and doctors letters at new address, also Octopus confirming I was with them at that time at new address and proving someone else was living their at that time, yet OVO said none of this is proof and continued with debt collection LCS and Solicitor, my question is, is it normal that OVO do not accept any of the above as proof of address?

Best answer by Nukecad

Updated on 22/07/25 by Emmanuelle_OVO:

Not found the answers you’re looking for? These other similar topics might be helpful:
 

 

 

Just to note that having a Tenancy at one property doesn't automatically mean you are not liable for the bills at another property.

For example, a person could have/rent 2 properties and then sub-let one as 'all inclusive' of bills.
I'm not suggesting for a moment that you have been doing that, it's just one example.*

Somebody obviously believes that you are still liable for the bill at the old property for some reason, otherwise there would be no point in them taking you to court.
You don’t start a court action unless you are pretty sure (rightly or wrongly) that you are going to be sucessful.

We don't know what that reason may be

However they'll now have to convince the court that whatever they think makes you liable to pay the bill then that reason is correct in law.

 

*One slightly concerning thought/possibility does come to mind here, you say:

.... I gave final meter readings over the phone as I've always done when I moved and thought nothing else of it.

However you don't mention getting a final bill after you moved out and new tenants moved in.
You don’t mention getting any confirmation that the account had been closed.

Is it possible that the account in your name was never closed properly?, and that the new tenants never registered new utility accounts there? So the account remained still active in your name until March 2023? Maybe when those tenants left and someone else moved in and registered new utility accounts?
(Such things can and do happen in rental properties).

If that is what happened then that's an administrative error, either made by you for not closing your account properly, or made by the supplier not closing it after you told them to do so.

In which case the court would need to decide who’s error it was, and if in fact you were still liable even though you were no longer living there.

Please do let us know how you get on.

32 replies

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Blastoise186
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Blastoise186Super User
Super User
December 3, 2024

Sounds like the lawyers have told them to do that. Can’t say for sure though as I’m not a lawyer myself and can’t say I’m an expert.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
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    Steve107Author
    Rank 2
    December 3, 2024

    ​@Blastoise186 Yes, only the solicitor has asked for everything on behalf of OVO, so probably been told not to engage with me, in hindsight I should of got my account closed in writing instead of over the phone, but I've done this way with every provider in the past and never had issue before, at first I thought it was a scam as I was with SSE and closed my account with SSE and didn't know who OVO was.

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    December 3, 2024

    That matches up with my own experiences. I had to take a company to Court once as a result of what they did to me. My lawyer was incredible and he helped a ton, but he mentioned that he should be the one to take the lead in terms of talking to the company on my behalf and to route as much as possible through him.

    Needless to say, I won that case by settling out of Court - and got all my costs back too because my lawyer had the genius idea to make the other side cough up a contribution towards my costs, and my insurance covered the rest. :)

    Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
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      Steve107Author
      Rank 2
      December 3, 2024

      ​@Blastoise186 Good result there. I didn't seek any legal advice, I will find out soon if this was a mistake on my part being for perhaps being over confident.

        Blastoise186
        Super User
        Blastoise186Super User
        Super User
        December 3, 2024

        For the future, check out home insurance policies that offer Family Legal Protection. These ones can save your bacon if you need it. I use Direct Line Home Insurance Plus myself, but I strongly recommend you do your own research and pick a policy that works for you - because I can’t promise the one I use is the best one for everyone else.

        For that reason, there’s (quite deliberately!) no direct link to it so that I can’t earn commission from saying it.

        Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
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          Steve107Author
          Rank 2
          December 3, 2024

          ​@Blastoise186 I'll look into them thanks, I didn't know they extended to legal protection.

          Blastoise186
          Super User
          Blastoise186Super User
          Super User
          December 3, 2024

          Some of them offer it by default, others don’t. In the case of Direct Line, it’s an Optional Add-On for the Standard tier, but bundled by default as an Included Add-On on the Plus tier. Arguably, the Plus tier is cheaper than going Standard and taking the Add-On(s), but totally your choice.

          Other insurers may name it differently, but you’ll usually be able to figure it out pretty quickly. Be warned that not all of them cover the same stuff and/or offer the same features - check carefully.

          As for the main issue, if you have a solid case you should do OK - the Judge will recognise that you’re not an expert and apply at least some tolerance for that.

          Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
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          Steve107Author
          Rank 2
          December 3, 2024

          ​@Blastoise186 Thanks, yes I'm sure it will work out okay for me on the day, it should be straight forward, although there's always that measure of doubt.

           

           

            Nukecad
            Super User
            NukecadSuper UserSolved
            Super User
            December 4, 2024

            Updated on 22/07/25 by Emmanuelle_OVO:

            Not found the answers you’re looking for? These other similar topics might be helpful:
             

             

             

            Just to note that having a Tenancy at one property doesn't automatically mean you are not liable for the bills at another property.

            For example, a person could have/rent 2 properties and then sub-let one as 'all inclusive' of bills.
            I'm not suggesting for a moment that you have been doing that, it's just one example.*

            Somebody obviously believes that you are still liable for the bill at the old property for some reason, otherwise there would be no point in them taking you to court.
            You don’t start a court action unless you are pretty sure (rightly or wrongly) that you are going to be sucessful.

            We don't know what that reason may be

            However they'll now have to convince the court that whatever they think makes you liable to pay the bill then that reason is correct in law.

             

            *One slightly concerning thought/possibility does come to mind here, you say:

            .... I gave final meter readings over the phone as I've always done when I moved and thought nothing else of it.

            However you don't mention getting a final bill after you moved out and new tenants moved in.
            You don’t mention getting any confirmation that the account had been closed.

            Is it possible that the account in your name was never closed properly?, and that the new tenants never registered new utility accounts there? So the account remained still active in your name until March 2023? Maybe when those tenants left and someone else moved in and registered new utility accounts?
            (Such things can and do happen in rental properties).

            If that is what happened then that's an administrative error, either made by you for not closing your account properly, or made by the supplier not closing it after you told them to do so.

            In which case the court would need to decide who’s error it was, and if in fact you were still liable even though you were no longer living there.

            Please do let us know how you get on.

            I said, Hey - Watts going on.
            Nukecad
            Super User
            NukecadSuper User
            Super User
            December 4, 2024

            What you are saying here conflict s with what you have said on another thread.

            15 hours ago on that other thread you stated:

            I know this is an old thread, but did you find a resolve? I noticed OVO said a tenancy agreement is proof of address, not in my case.

            Despite providing OVO with a mountain of evidence that I wasn't at the address they claimed and was at an entirely different address, OVO still went to court and applied a CCJ against me without my knowledge of court action, luckily I was able to set this aside immediately, I firmly believe OVO are either completely stupid or they knew I wasn't liable but assumed I was an easy target, in my opinion OVO are a despicable company, just look at the various reviews. 

             

            So which one is it?

            Are you being taken to court as you state on this thread?
            Or have you already been to court and had the case set aside as you state there?

            If you are saying different things in different places then how are we supposed to believe anything that you tell us?

            I said, Hey - Watts going on.
            Show more replies
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            OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

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            OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd